Bob's Bests: Album Tracks
Feb 7, 2004 18:05:56 GMT -5
Post by Bob on Feb 7, 2004 18:05:56 GMT -5
I'm gonna start a series where I post the bests of different topics. Starting off with album tracks:
When I say album tracks, I mean a song that was not released as a single, nor were they scrapped, to my knowledge. Moreover, they're generally songs that wouldn't fly at radio, either because they go against what radio is playing at the time, or they're simply too radio un-friendly and would have needed a major radio edit and/or remix.
The point of this is to point out some great songs that most of you have not heard of-- if you like one of the artists I talk about, but only have their hits-- well check out these songs, too! BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL STRONG EXAMPLES OF WHAT THE ARTIST IS ALL ABOUT.
702
"Make Time" from "702" 1999
702 is known widely only because of "Where My Girls At?". This song, from the same album as the one with that hit, has the kind of production that really defines the sound of that time. Good beat, nice lead vocals from Meelah, makes it a good song.
Aaliyah
"Giving You More" from "One In A Million" 1997
What a classic Aaliyah song. Her vocals are in full form here, really sounding like true-Aaliyah. Once again the sound really defines the year it was put out in. Strong mid-tempo jam.
Ashanti
"Rescue" from "Ashanti" 2002
What a gem, if Ashanti ever released material like this people would see her different. It makes the most of her voice while also staying true to her style.
Blu Cantrell
"So Blu" from "So Blu" 2001
Although this song doesn't define the sound of 2001, it does sum up Blu Cantrell. The jazziness, the clever phrasing, and the range. Talk about a song with a lot of mood.
Changing Faces
"I Apologize" from "All Day, All Night" 1997
"That Ain't Me" from "Visit Me" 2000
One of the best R&B duos ever in terms of vocal harmony, these songs show off just how perfectly these two women sound together. The melodies are great.
Coko
"All My Lovin'" from "Hot Coko" 1999
A lot of you may not release Coko, from the famous mid-90s group S.W.V., launched a solo career. The only hit was top 10 R&B jam "Sunshine". This song however makes my list by virtue of being so good.
Deborah Cox
"Just When I Think I'm Over You" from "One Wish" 1998
This song both shows off her amazing vocals as well as ability to sing over an upbeat rhythm and heavy bass line. The lyrics fit very much with Deborah, and it's just a powerful song in general.
Destiny's Child
"Where'd You Go?" from "The Writing's On The Wall" 1999
This song is Destiny's Child at it's peak I believe, with some of their most meaningul lyrics and best performance from Beyoncé. A very mature song for them yet still showcasing them well.
Donell Jones
"All Her Love" from "Where I Wanna Be" 1999
Such a smooth voice, such a smooth song, this is like all his other songs put together.
En Vogue
"Love U Crazay" from "Masterpiece Theater" 1999
I know, a song from post-Funky Divas?! This song was actually a great work of art, using a classical symphony piece with R&B bass, vocals, and lyrics, a great performance. Check this one out.
Erykah Badu
"Kiss Me On My Neck" from "Mama's Gun" 2001
"Drama" from album "Baduizm" 1997
Both of these songs are Erykah at her finest, with very good lyrics.
Faith Evans
"You Don't Understand" from "Faith" 1995
"Back To Love" from "Faithfully" 2001
The former sums up Faith's gospel-tinged vocals, the latter her dance music skills, both with nice lyrics.
Ginuwine
"Final Warning" from "100% Ginuwine" 1999
He keeps his vocals well in control on this 6:16 track.
Kelly Price
"At Least" from "Mirror, Mirror" 2000
Flawless, smooth vocals on a really laid-back smooth track, this song gets in my head all the time. It makes you wanna just relax.
Lauryn Hill
"Forgive Them Father" from "Miseducation..." 1999
Manages to best show off all of her skills and styles in a memorable song.
Lucy Pearl
"Without You" from "Lucy Pearl" 2000
So much hype, and such a huge debut hit, turned into one-hit wonders. This song is amazing, lyrics, vocals, production, everything. A very powerful song.
Mariah Carey
"Vanishing" from "Mariah Carey" 1990
Simply one of the most amazing vocal performances ever, with some of the strongest lyrics Mariah ever wrote. You have to have this song.
Mary J. Blige
"Changes I've Been Going Through" from "...411?" 1992
"Don't Go" from "My Life" 1994
From back in the day before Mary ever had any filler tracks, the former shows her hip-hop and the latter her real R&B. Awesome vocals (listen for Faith Evans backing on "Don't Go") make two of her best songs.
Missy Elliott
"Lick Shots" from "So Addictive" 2001
Sums up her rap skills and lyric writing, as well as the beat defines 2001.
Monica
"Angel" from "Miss Thang" 1995
"Take Him Back" from "The Boy Is Mine" 1998
"Down 4 Whatever" from "After the Storm" 2003
The first song defines what makes Monica's voice unique. The second is a strong song that defines her style. The last just shows her promise, as she did writing, production, etc. on a really sexy track.
Mya
"Fear of Flying" from "Fear of Flying" 1999
One of her better performances on a mid-tempo, where I think Mya is truly at home.
Tamia
"Go" from "Nu Day" 2000
The fact that her vocals can keep up with the heaviness of this beat alone shows how great she is.
Terry Ellis
"You Make Me High" from "Southern Girl" 1995
En Vogue member-turned solo, she had one decent R&B hit with "Wherever You Are", but the vocals on this track really will make you high, they just flat out soar.
TLC
"Kick Your Game" from "CrazySexyCool" 1994
"Take Our Time" from "CrazySexyCool" 1994
"Give It To Me While It's Hot" from "3D" 2002
The entire CSC album is classic, these songs sum it up; the third song is just TLC at their best; yes, it features Left Eye in one of her best, although shortest, raps.
Toni Braxton
"Fairy Tale" from "The Heat" 2000
A classic Toni performance on a midtempo song that just sums up what she's all about.
When I say album tracks, I mean a song that was not released as a single, nor were they scrapped, to my knowledge. Moreover, they're generally songs that wouldn't fly at radio, either because they go against what radio is playing at the time, or they're simply too radio un-friendly and would have needed a major radio edit and/or remix.
The point of this is to point out some great songs that most of you have not heard of-- if you like one of the artists I talk about, but only have their hits-- well check out these songs, too! BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL STRONG EXAMPLES OF WHAT THE ARTIST IS ALL ABOUT.
702
"Make Time" from "702" 1999
702 is known widely only because of "Where My Girls At?". This song, from the same album as the one with that hit, has the kind of production that really defines the sound of that time. Good beat, nice lead vocals from Meelah, makes it a good song.
Aaliyah
"Giving You More" from "One In A Million" 1997
What a classic Aaliyah song. Her vocals are in full form here, really sounding like true-Aaliyah. Once again the sound really defines the year it was put out in. Strong mid-tempo jam.
Ashanti
"Rescue" from "Ashanti" 2002
What a gem, if Ashanti ever released material like this people would see her different. It makes the most of her voice while also staying true to her style.
Blu Cantrell
"So Blu" from "So Blu" 2001
Although this song doesn't define the sound of 2001, it does sum up Blu Cantrell. The jazziness, the clever phrasing, and the range. Talk about a song with a lot of mood.
Changing Faces
"I Apologize" from "All Day, All Night" 1997
"That Ain't Me" from "Visit Me" 2000
One of the best R&B duos ever in terms of vocal harmony, these songs show off just how perfectly these two women sound together. The melodies are great.
Coko
"All My Lovin'" from "Hot Coko" 1999
A lot of you may not release Coko, from the famous mid-90s group S.W.V., launched a solo career. The only hit was top 10 R&B jam "Sunshine". This song however makes my list by virtue of being so good.
Deborah Cox
"Just When I Think I'm Over You" from "One Wish" 1998
This song both shows off her amazing vocals as well as ability to sing over an upbeat rhythm and heavy bass line. The lyrics fit very much with Deborah, and it's just a powerful song in general.
Destiny's Child
"Where'd You Go?" from "The Writing's On The Wall" 1999
This song is Destiny's Child at it's peak I believe, with some of their most meaningul lyrics and best performance from Beyoncé. A very mature song for them yet still showcasing them well.
Donell Jones
"All Her Love" from "Where I Wanna Be" 1999
Such a smooth voice, such a smooth song, this is like all his other songs put together.
En Vogue
"Love U Crazay" from "Masterpiece Theater" 1999
I know, a song from post-Funky Divas?! This song was actually a great work of art, using a classical symphony piece with R&B bass, vocals, and lyrics, a great performance. Check this one out.
Erykah Badu
"Kiss Me On My Neck" from "Mama's Gun" 2001
"Drama" from album "Baduizm" 1997
Both of these songs are Erykah at her finest, with very good lyrics.
Faith Evans
"You Don't Understand" from "Faith" 1995
"Back To Love" from "Faithfully" 2001
The former sums up Faith's gospel-tinged vocals, the latter her dance music skills, both with nice lyrics.
Ginuwine
"Final Warning" from "100% Ginuwine" 1999
He keeps his vocals well in control on this 6:16 track.
Kelly Price
"At Least" from "Mirror, Mirror" 2000
Flawless, smooth vocals on a really laid-back smooth track, this song gets in my head all the time. It makes you wanna just relax.
Lauryn Hill
"Forgive Them Father" from "Miseducation..." 1999
Manages to best show off all of her skills and styles in a memorable song.
Lucy Pearl
"Without You" from "Lucy Pearl" 2000
So much hype, and such a huge debut hit, turned into one-hit wonders. This song is amazing, lyrics, vocals, production, everything. A very powerful song.
Mariah Carey
"Vanishing" from "Mariah Carey" 1990
Simply one of the most amazing vocal performances ever, with some of the strongest lyrics Mariah ever wrote. You have to have this song.
Mary J. Blige
"Changes I've Been Going Through" from "...411?" 1992
"Don't Go" from "My Life" 1994
From back in the day before Mary ever had any filler tracks, the former shows her hip-hop and the latter her real R&B. Awesome vocals (listen for Faith Evans backing on "Don't Go") make two of her best songs.
Missy Elliott
"Lick Shots" from "So Addictive" 2001
Sums up her rap skills and lyric writing, as well as the beat defines 2001.
Monica
"Angel" from "Miss Thang" 1995
"Take Him Back" from "The Boy Is Mine" 1998
"Down 4 Whatever" from "After the Storm" 2003
The first song defines what makes Monica's voice unique. The second is a strong song that defines her style. The last just shows her promise, as she did writing, production, etc. on a really sexy track.
Mya
"Fear of Flying" from "Fear of Flying" 1999
One of her better performances on a mid-tempo, where I think Mya is truly at home.
Tamia
"Go" from "Nu Day" 2000
The fact that her vocals can keep up with the heaviness of this beat alone shows how great she is.
Terry Ellis
"You Make Me High" from "Southern Girl" 1995
En Vogue member-turned solo, she had one decent R&B hit with "Wherever You Are", but the vocals on this track really will make you high, they just flat out soar.
TLC
"Kick Your Game" from "CrazySexyCool" 1994
"Take Our Time" from "CrazySexyCool" 1994
"Give It To Me While It's Hot" from "3D" 2002
The entire CSC album is classic, these songs sum it up; the third song is just TLC at their best; yes, it features Left Eye in one of her best, although shortest, raps.
Toni Braxton
"Fairy Tale" from "The Heat" 2000
A classic Toni performance on a midtempo song that just sums up what she's all about.
, my most recommended listens are Not Tonight, Hung Up, Dawn, or Jersey.
